The Ribble

The Ribble PcYtrait of (XtA. E*>tu

The Ribble Estuary

The Ribble is one of the longest

rivers in North West England.

From its source near Ribblehead

in the spectacular limestone

country of the Yorkshire Dales, it

flows south-west into tancashire

along a broad, scenic valley.

West of Preston, the Ribble meets

the Irish Sea in a funnel-shaped

estuary, 16 km across at its mouth,

the influence of which extends as

far as Rossall Point in the north

and Formby Point to the south.

The Ribble Estuary evolved as the

sea-level rose rapidly at the end

of the Ice Age, 10 000 years ago,

when an existing valley was

flooded.

The sea carried wi th it large

quantities of sand and mud.

Coupled wi th material brought

down the river, this began to silt

up the Estuary, a natural process

which continues today.

Low tide in the Estuary reveals

the extensive mud and sandflats,

giving an impression of a

desolate wasteland, devoid of life.

In reality, the mudflats are

enormously productive,

supporting multitudes of small

burrowing creatures - up to

100 000 per square metre -

which in turn provide food for

tens of thousands of birds.

Saltmarshes form when

sheltered sand and mudflats

remain exposed long enough

between tides for salt-tolerant

plants to colonise the surface.

These plants trap silt from the

tides and so the mudflats grow

upwards.

Rolling sand-dunes develop on

the less sheltered fringes of the

Estuary. Here, the breaking of the

waves prevents saltmarsh

forming but sand exposed at

low-tide can be blown up the

shore and is then trapped by

The thriving holiday resorts of

Lytham St. Anne's, Blackpool and

Southport dominate the Estuary's

fringes. Activities ranging from

fishing and farming to recreation

and industry take place on or

near the Estuary.

The inner parts of the Estuary are hardy grasses, such as marram, to

lined by some of the largest salt- form dune ridges. In places, the

marshes in Britain, valuable as Sefton Coast sand dunes are over

grazing land and as a habitat for 2 km wide, creating one of the

a wide variety of wildlife. finest examples of a sand dune

system on the North West coast.

The area around the Ribble

Estuary has been home to

humans for at least 10 000 years,

stone tools of Mesolithic (Middle

Stone Age) hunter-gatherers

having been found on the Fylde

and in Sefton. Settled farmers of

the Neolithic (New Stone Age)

began to clear the forests for

their crops and

livestock about

6500 years ago.

Bronze Age

(2000 - 750 BC)

finds during the

excavation of

Preston Dock

include a bronze

spear-head, two

dug-out canoes and the remains

of what seems to have been a

wooden lake-dwelling.

Romans, Anglo Saxons and

Vikings all invaded and settled in

the region. Western Europe's

largest hoard of Viking silver was

buried in the river bank at

Cuerdale, just east of Preston, in

about 905 AD and uncovered in

1840. Worth £300 000 in modern

currency, it included 7500 coins.

The Domesday Book (1086 AD)

shows that the land around the

Ribble was thinly inhabited.

Then, and throughout the Middle

Ages, it was

"A place of forest and marsh, a

few small towns and a scattering

of villages held together by a

primitive framework of feudal

overlords and widely scattered

churches...". (Keith Parry, 1983)

Fishing has always been

important to local people.

Fisheries were owned by the

lords of the manor and leased

out. Salmon and sea trout were

the most esteemed catch but

flounders ('flukes') were also

taken on the estuary.

Commercial fisheries on the

inner Ribble declined in the

19th century, though they

continued in the outermost

parts of the Estuary.

Each time an area was

embanked, further

saltmarsh growth was

stimulated outside the

bank so, within a few

years, the process could

be repeated. Around

2320 hectares of

saltmarsh - a football

pitch is approximately

1 hectare - have been

reclaimed from the Ribble.

The River Ribble and its estuary

have long been an important

highway. Vikings used the Ribble

Valley as their main route from

the west coast inland, and there

are written records of ships

visiting Preston for commerce

as early as 1360.

By the early 19th century, the

unpredictable nature of the

estuary channels and

poor facilities for

unloading cargoes led to

proposals to straighten

and deepen the river

channel and create a

dock in Preston. The

construction of training

walls either side of the

navigation channel began in the

1840s.The Albert Edward Dock

opened in 1892; at the time it was

the largest single dock in the

country. Declining trade and

increasing costs from the late

1960s led to port closure in 1981,

the dockland being redeveloped

for a marina and housing.

From earliest times, the Ribble

saltmarshes have been used for

grazing cattle and sheep. Some

were enclosed by earth banks,

known locally as 'cops', and

used for growing crops. Major

reclamation began from about

1840, taking advantage of the

training of the river channel

which prevented it meandering

and eroding land either side.

Y\ctUfe

THIS PACE: Accommodation vessel moored off Lytham, circa 1920

RNLI Lifeboat at Lytham

Lytham windmill

"A Lifeboat Station was first

established at Lytham in 1851,

followed by one at St Anne's in

1881. The latter closed in 1928 and

the station was renamed Lytham

St Anne's in 7937. The Ribble

Estuary is important to us as our

centre of operations, though we

also cover up to so miles

offshore. On average, our

volunteer crews answer about

40 calls a year to all manner

of incidents, many of them

life-threatening." Frank Kilroy,

Lytham St Anne's Lifeboat Station.

Sea-bathing became popular in

the early 1700s. Despite its

remoteness, the tiny fishing

village of Black Pool was the first

to take advantage of this activity,

w i th "accommodations" being

provided in the 30 primitive

cottages strung out on the edge

of the beach. The first hotel was

built in 1755 and, by 1787, the

resort was well established.

Southport did not exist before

1792 when William Sutton

erected a crude driftwood shanty

on the beach to accommodate

bathers f rom Churchtown.

This was rebuilt in 1798 and

christened the South Port Hotel.

Lytham has a much older

medieval and manorial origin but

St. Anne's is Lancashire's newest

resort, being purpose-built f rom

1875 onwards.

/ have always maintained my

connection with the fiver, being

a founder member of the Ribble

Cruising Club and Head Launcher

of the Lytham Lifeboat for 24

years. I had my own boat up to

1997." Arnold Broxup, Ansdell.

We made and sailed boats, swam

in the river, picked samphire,

caught flukes when the tide was

out and, in later years, went

wildfowling.

It was a thoroughly unrestricted

life; no bird sanctuaries, pollution

scares and, to my recollection,

more wild birds, including vast

flocks of Starlings which would

take 20 minutes to go over to

roost on Longton.

"Ourfamily lived in the

Guides House area at the end

of Cuides Lane, Warton, a place

now unknown to anyone under

60 as it was taken over by the

Air Ministry during World War II

to be used as 1

an American

air base.

The river

itself was the

playground

for me, my

brother and

several other

local lads.

Reclaimed land on the south side

of the Estuary includes some of

the most productive farmland in

the country, and is particularly

noted for its high value vegetable

and salad crops.

Some land

remains

unploughed

and is used as

pasture, as with

the saltmarshes

which are also

grazed, an

exception being

the outer

section of Crossens Marsh.

The Lancashire coast presents a

unique challenge to fishermen.

As well as the changing elements

they must tackle its treacherous

sands, constantly shifting

channels, and tides that race in

from the open sea.

In the middle part of the Estuary,

salmon are netted from small

open boats. Offshore, beyond the

mouth of the Estuary, larger

boats from Fleetwood and

Liverpool fish for valuable flatfish

using trawls.

In between, a fleet of smaller

boats fish for a

variety of species,

both commercially

and for pleasure.

The unique character

of the Ribble fisheries

is seen most clearly

among those fisher-

men who fish from

the shore, rather than the sea.

On the southern side of the

Estuary the shrimp fishermen

realised long ago that boats are

a liability in shallow channels,

and instead used horses to haul

their nets.Today, tractors and

converted lorries have replaced

the horses.

The vast intertidal sands of the

Ribble are also home to large

populations of cockles. These are

gathered by hand, but cockle

fishermen also use vehicles to

travel out to the cockle beds,

which may be far from the high

water mark.

Several organisations work to

protect fish

stocks in the

Estuary. Salmon

fishing is

governed by the

Environment

Agency, and

fishing for sea

fish is regulated by the local

North Western & North Wales

Sea Fisheries Committee as well

as the Ministry of Agriculture

Fisheries & Food.

"The estuary is highly valued by

our club for recreational boat

angling. There are numerous

species offish to be caught, also

seals and birdlife to be enjoyed

while fishing.

A particular feature to watch

out for is a wreck that is partly

uncovered at low water. I think it

is that of the Zelander, locally

known as the "Mugship". It is a

haven for marine life but is also a

danger to those who do not know

it is there; it could take the

bottom out of any craft and needs

to be buoyed."

Bob Deacon,

Southport Boat

Angling Club.

IS

A major industry on the Ribble is

BAE Systems (formerly British

Aerospace) based at Warton

Aerodrome, which was originally

built during World War II. BAE

Systems are the largest industrial

employer in Lancashire with over

6000 people employed at

Warton in the manufacture of

military and commercial aircraft

and components.

BNFL Springfield,

the UK's largest

manufacturer of

nuclear fuel, is

situated on the

northern edge of

the Estuary.

One of the largest

landfill sites in

Lancashire is situated at Clifton

Marsh, while next-door is Preston's

state of the art wastewater

treatment works (WwTW). Sludge

created at the WwTW is disposed

at the landfill site creating a

functional link between the two.

"Sandwinning has taken place on

the Ribble Estuary at Horse Bank

near Southport for more than 30

years. Some 200 000 to 300 000

tonnes are extracted annually.

The unique properties of the

industrial sand are essential to

the Pilkington glass grinding and

polishing operations in St. Helens

and Doncaster. They have no

alternative sources and are

under intense competition

from Japanese producers,

the only other manufactur-

ers of glass of this quality.

If sand from Southport for

the glass grinding process

was no longer available, it

would make it impossible to

compete and result in the

loss of business and employment."

Gwilym Jones, William Rainford

(Holdings) Limited.

"BAE Systems at Warton have

been keen supporters and

guardians of the Kibble Estuary for

many years. We have

introduced an

Environmental

Management System

which ensures that our

employees are aware

of the impacts our

company makes on the

S H E environment and how

these can be minimised. As well

as infrastructure investment to

reduce or eliminate environmental

hazards, we have also established

key relationships with the

Environment Agency, Tidy Britain

Croup and the RSPB through

various clean-up operations

involving our employees and

members of the local community."

David Glennon, BAE Systems,

Health, Safety & Environment,

Warton.

Blackpool is Britain's premier

resort with 17 million visits per

year. Top attractions include the

Pleasure Beach, the Tower,

the Sandcastle, and the Sealife

Centre, while the Illuminations

extend the season into the

autumn. Southport relies more

on its 19th century charm,

shopping facilities, gardens and

annual flower show.

One of the major recreations of

the area is links golf with six out of

the top 25 golf courses

in the country on the

Fylde and Sefton coasts.

Another traditional

activity on the Estuary

is wildfowling, the

sport being carefully

regulated with large

sanctuary areas.

Sailing is also popular, with

marinas at Preston Dock and

Hesketh Bank and facilities on

the marine lakes at Fairhaven and

Southport. St. Anne's North

Beach is internationally famous

for sand-yachting.

Finally, one of the most rapidly

growing leisure pursuits is

bird-watching, including

organised events run by the RSPB

at its Fairhaven Discovery Centre

and Marshside Nature Reserve.

y\0^efiA. T I K / ^ Cco^t)

?; \CtUre*> THIS PACE: The promenade at Southport

Sunset over the Estuary

Sanderling at Crossens

"To walk along the promenade

from the Land Registry, past

Lytham Green to the far end of

Fairhaven Lake is a delight. When

the tide is out and the sun low

and shining through clouds, the

reflections on the wet sands are

worthy of a Turner painting; yet,

when the tide is up and the sun

is high, it is a Shakespearean

"silver sea". Nature is not always

so kind and there are days when

the wind howls,

the sand blows

and the water is

black. Mankind

can also be

unpleasant in

the form of mad,

silent cyclists

roaring past at

heart-stopping speeds to the

distress of those taking the air.

Yet the positive delights of the

two-mile promenade overcome

its disadvantages for thousands of

pedestrians." F.G. Fallows,

Federation of Lancashire Civic

Societies.

Water from a large

part of Lancashire

drains into the Irish

Sea through the

Ribble Estuary.

Although some of

the bathing waters

on the coastal

beaches still do not

meet European

standards, there has been a

steady and significant improve-

ment in the Estuary's water

quality. To tackle the problem,

North West Water Ltd has

invested over £500 million in one

of Europe's largest environmenta

clean-ups. They continue to

make further investment,

while the Environment Agency

undertake research and

monitoring of the estuary.

Water quality is influenced

by such diverse factors as

agriculture, storm water, urban

runoff, industry, wildlife, and

algae.

Discovering the degree to which

each one, or a combination of

these influences can affect water

quality is a difficult task, but one

which many organisations are

working on together.

"Fylde Borough Council in

partnership with the R5PB, has

established the Ribble Discovery

Centre at Fairhaven take, which is

enjoyed by thousands of visitors

and school groups every year.

In summer, the dunes are a riot

of colour from the many wild

flowers, including rare species such

as orchids. Guided walks feature

the natural history of the dunes

and the shorebirds of the nearby

St Anne's beach which is the most

important in Britain for the

Sanderling.

Unaffected by local sand-yachting

activity, these tiny waders

run up and down the beach with

the ebb and flow of each wave like

so many clockwork toys."

Dave Joy, Head of Tourism and

Leisure, Fylde Borough Council

»?

The Ribble Estuary is of immense

importance for wildlife. There are

many wildlife habitats present

including intertidal mud and

sandflats, saltmarsh, freshwater

marsh, pools and river channels.

Burrowing worms,

snails, shellfish and

crabs live in the mud

and sand,fish swim

into the Estuary at

high tide and wild-

flowers grow on the

saltmarshes. Each

winter some of

Europe's largest flocks of birds

migrate to the Estuary from their

breeding grounds further north.

Others, wintering further south,

stop in the Estuary to feed for a

few days during the spring and

autumn before continuing on

their journeys. Many species of

bird also nest and raise chicks

around the Estuary.

Flights of waders to and from the

roosts are one of our greatest

natural spectacles. Flocks twist

and turn together like distant

smoke - a remarkable sight

which attracts bird-watchers

from far and wide.

The Estuary regularly supports

internationally important

numbers of 20 different species of

waders and wildfowl (see page

27), more than any other British

wetland. Of particular significance

are the wigeon flocks, the largest

numbers on any estuary in

the country. Salt and grazing-

marshes are also a haven in

winter to pink-footed geese.

A wide variety of other birds also

use the saltmarshes including

flocks of the nationally declining

skylark, together with buntings,

finches and pipits. These and the

waterfowl attract birds of

prey, particularly merlin,

peregrine, and hen harrier

in winter. The Ribble Estuary

is also nationally important

for breeding birds wi th large

nesting colonies of gulls and

common terns.

Redshank breeds on both the

saltmarshes and the reclaimed

grazing-marshes.

Plants on the lowest mudflats

include glassworts, known locally

as samphire or 'Sampy'. They are

often accompanied by the spiky

common cord-grass (spartina)

which was introduced to the

Ribble in 1932. Next comes

common saltmarsh-grass,

forming a green-sward

covering most of the marsh

surface. As this traps silt it

encourages more plants to move

in, noticeably sea aster, and

English scurvy-grass. The highest

marshes are characterised by

another grass, red fescue, and in

a few places uncommon plants,

such as long-bracted sedge and

parsley water-dropwort may be

found.

Reclaimed grazing-marshes are

rich in plant life. Often the

pasture has a golden haze of

buttercups in early summer.

Special plants here include the

nationally scarce brackish water-

crowfoot and marsh orchids.

"To me the Ribble Estuary is one

of the wildlife jewels in Lancashire's

crown. A spectacular place for

wild birds in its own right, taken

together with the Mersey and

Morecambe Bay it makes up one

of the best places in Europe to see

vast numbers of waders and wild-

fowl. But I am always mindful of

the less obvious wildlife that lives

between the tides and beneath

the waves. That includes young

Sea Bass and flatfish, Common

Cockles, Baltic Tellins and Peppery

Furrow-shells, and the wriggling,

writhing, biting Common Rag-

worm. Without these and more,

there wouldn't be the food supply

to attract and sustain all those

hungry birds. And spare a thought

for the lonely bristle-worm,

Ophelia bicornis. It spends its life

entirely buried in the loose, mobile

sand of the outer estuary. Though...

(continued on page 25)

/ set off in the car, hoping that the

imminent rain will hold off.

The wind is increasing as we head

for the sea wall in the dark along

the wet, slippery path. There is a

hint of dawn in the sky but it will

be another 30 minutes before the

flight starts. The westerly wind is

nearing gale force and, crossing

many muddy gutters, we will

have to watch out for the tide

pushing in early. The sky lightens

as dawn breaks; clouds race

across the sky, the black lower

clouds contrasting with the

beautiful, deep pink upper ones,

picking up the early morning rays

of the sun.

If this was a painting, you

would not believe the colours.

As daylight takes hold, the

loneliness and wildness of

the estuary become apparent;

not a place for the faint-hearted,

but nature at its very best.

Packs ofWigeon and the

occasional Teal and Pintail

flight out to the shore. We

manage to shoot the odd one

but, though our bag may be

limited, the day has already

become imprinted on my mind.

Suddenly, the tide appears,

forcing us to set off back.

A large flight of Pink-footed Geese

crosses over the sea wall. The

"Hounds of Heaven" can be

heard calling as they head for

the "Mere". This is the call of

the wild, haunting and irresistible

to the wildfowler."

F.A.White, Chairman, Preston &

District Wildfowlers' Association.

Comparatively few fin fish

species are found within the

Ribble. These include migratory

fish - salmon, trout and eels -

which pass through the Estuary

en route between the River

Ribble and the open sea, and also

the estuarine and marine species.

Herring and bass use the Ribble

as a nursery area. Flounder and

smelt on the other hand may

live their entire life in the Ribble.

Dragonets, pogges and even

poisonous lesser weevers are

found in the outer estuary, while

three spined sticklebacks and

common gobies can be found in

the waters of the inner estuary

and saltmarsh.

Beyond the mouth of the Estuary

there are several members of the

shark family, whilst sole and cod

and other marine species attract

both commercial and recreational

fishermen. The fauna of the tidal

flats of the Ribble Estuary is

typical of the other major

estuaries and embayments of

North West England; mainly

worms, crustaceans and molluscs

The true value of these

communities is not that they

are rare or contain a wide

diversity of species, but in their

huge biomass that attracts

internationally important

numbers of birds to feed

on them, as well as many

fish. Also within the

Estuary there are large

stocks of shellfish

including shrimps,

cockles and mussels.

Cobbles and boulders in the

Estuary support creatures such

as barnacles and green seaweed.

Further offshore these hard

surfaces produce a more diverse

habitat: delicate sea firs and sea

mats are grazed upon by sea

spiders and sea slugs. Sea

anemones and the soft coral,

dead man's fingers, live

alongside a variety of crabs.

These small oases are not typical

but provide a wonderful contrast

to the dominant mud and sand

sediments.

2̂ 7

7956 Southport Sanctuary established as a National Wildfowl Refuge

7976 Ribble Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designated

7978 Scarisbrick Estate put up for sale. About 5500 acres (2226 ha) of Ribble Estuary saltmarsh and mudflat within the SSSI bought for reclamation

7979 After prolonged negotiation, the area was purchased for the nation by the Nature Conservancy Council (now English Nature) as Banks Marsh National Nature Reserve (NNR)

7980 Ribble Estuary Wildfowl Liaison Committee set up

198O Part of Hesketh Out Marsh added to the NNR by Nature Reserve Agreement with the owners

7987 The enlarged Ribble Marshes National Nature Reserve declared

7982 A small part of the Ribble Estuary classified Special Protection Area (SPA) under the 1979 European Commission (EC) Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (the Birds Directive)

7985 The Alt Estuary designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, and classified as a SPA under the Birds Directive

7986 Newton Marsh SSSI designated

Warton Marsh purchased by Lytham & District

Wildfowlers Association who entered into a Nature

Reserve Agreement with the Nature Conservancy Council

Ribble Estuary Strategy established

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds leased land

from Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council to form

Marshside Nature Reserve

1995 The Ribble Estuary NNR extended, incorporating Warton Marsh and other landholdings

igg§ The Ribble and Alt Estuaries classified as a SPA and designated as a Ramsar site

1996 Sefton Coast submitted to the EC as a candidate Special Area of Conservation under the EC Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora

In practice, most day-to-day

management on the Estuary is

undertaken by landowners, but

how best can everyone work

towards a common purpose?

The Ribble Estuary tiaison

Committee, involving wildfowlers

and other land managers, has

met for many years to discuss

common interests and concerns.

In 1993 Sefton Council introduced

a successful beach management

strategy to balance the needs

of fisheries, recreation and

conservation on its internationally

important foreshore.

For the first t ime in many

decades, breeding birds such as

the ringed

plover, can be

found nesting

at the top of

the beach.

Management

Plans have also

been written

for the various

nature reserves in and around

the Ribble.

Then there is a Shoreline

Management Plan, bringing

together local authorities

and others to address coastal

protection concerns, including

possible sea

level rise,

while the

Environment

Agency has

recently

published a

series of tocal

Environment

Agency Plans (LEAPs), tackling

pollution of land, air and,

especially, water.

A new canal, the Millennium

Ribble Link, is being created to

link the Lancaster Canal to the

rest of the inland waterway

network via the Estuary. When

the canal is completed it will

realise a 200 year old dream.

Recognition of the need for

a more integrated approach

to management of the Ribble

Estuary as a whole led to the

publication of the Ribble Estuary

Strategy in 1997. Over 700

individuals and organisations

were consulted and the stated

aim of the strategy is:

"To sustain, enhance and

improve the environment of

the Ribble Estuary in order

to maximise its potential for

wildlife and human use."

This aim sets the context

for four objectives relating

to Human Activities,

Management, Natural

Resources and Heritage,

and the Water Environment,

all o f which have their

own policies which are

translated in to action.

In this way we hope that

future generations will be

able to enjoy the sights

and sounds of this wonderful

estuary.

More than ever before the

Estuary is the focus of a

diverse range of interests and

activities that all have some

degree of impact. It is this

diversity of interest however

that offers the potential for

ensuring its future.

*t

The Ribble Estuary Partnership

has been brought together to

deliver the aims and objectives

of the Ribble Estuary Strategy.

A Steering Group has been

formed to co-ordinate the

implementation of the Strategy,

and a User Group that provides

a forum for the public and other

stakeholders to represent their

views on issues affecting the

Estuary. This group also serves

to increase communication and

understanding between the

various users.

The Ribble Estuary Partnership

is also part of PISCES (the

Partnership of Coast and Estuary

Strategies). PISCES is in turn

represented on the North West

Coastal Forum. Both of these

groups aim to provide integrated

and holistic management of

the coast.

To contact the Ribble Estuary

Partnership:

Dave Hortin

Project Co-ordinator

Ribble Estuary Partnership

% Blackburn WwTW

Cuerdale Lane

Samlesbury

Preston PR5 oUY

Telephone: 01772 877122

Fax: 01772 227231

Email:

source.to.sea@virginnet.co.uk

The Partnership has a website

at www.ribble-estuary.co.uk

which includes other

publications, lists of events,

links to related sites, and

further details about the

Estuary.

IS

mailto:source.to.sea@virginnet.co.ukhttp://www.ribble-estuary.co.uk

(continuedfrom page 23) ... a national rarity, it will never

have the cuddly appeal of a Red

Squirrel or the beauty of an orchid

and so it remains unsung and

unloved, poor thing!"

Dave Dunlop,

The Wildlife Trust.

Over half of the Estuary is

declared as a National

Nature Reserve (NNR).

Much of the NNR is

owned and managed by

English Nature. Other

areas are privately owned,

managed as a part of the NNR

by agreement. The management

of the NNR continually seeks to

make the most of the wildlife

habitats present and, during

recent decades, has resulted in an

increase in the numbers of many

species of bird.

There is also another NNR

at Ainsdale Sand Dunes on

the Sefton Coast.The local

authorities have established

Local Nature Reserves at Lytham

St. Anne's and Ainsdale and

Birkdale Sandhills and the RSPB

has its nature reserve at

Marshside.

Traditional uses of the Estuary

continue. Recreation, fisheries,

wildfowling and farming all take

place within the NNR in balance

wi th its nature conservation

interest.

Almost all of the saltmarshes in

the Estuary are grazed by sheep

or cattle, mostly in summer.This

ensures that plants, which form

the staple diet of the wigeon,

pink-footed geese and wild

swans are both plentiful and in

ideal condition for wintering

birds whilst leaving enough cover

for breeding birds.

Wildfowling is one of the

traditional activities which takes

place on the saltmarshes. English

Nature working wi th the

wildfowling clubs in managing

this activity on the NNR has

played a key part in the improve-

ment of the Estuary's wildlife.